THIS DAY WILL BE BIG. Well, MAY be big. I think it will be. It is only a medium mountian stage, but it is filled with fatiguing lumps to sap what energy is left in the legs. And, after yesterday, los Machucos, this day will see major attacks. THIS is the day we could see a repeat of Froomigal.

The first half of the race sees the peloton cruising around the coastal plains of Cantabria, with the typical sharp ups and downs that typify coastal areas that are next to mountain ranges. These lumps should sap any riders who are close to the edge of fatigue. A little over halfway through, and the peloton will hit the coastal mountains of the Cantabrian range. There are three cat 3 climbs and descents, back to back, with a short break, and then the final cat 3 climb to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana.

It will be the fatigue that makes this stage a special opportunity. The fatigue, and four climbs, nearly back to back, that will present an opportunity should there be any weakness shown.

Another Funte Dé is probably a bit much too ask for, but who knows... Contador, Nibali and others will try, I guess, and even if they can "only" gain a bit of time on the final climb, it should spice things up nicely for the coming days

I just went and checked the roadways - I don't see anything that looks particularly selective. Pretty open approach to the first puerto, Collada de Carmona. The 2nd and 3rd may see some selections made. The roads are still good, but there are some pinch points and turns that may see riders jostling for position.

I didn't get to watch the race yesterday - got called to work. But I watched a recording last night. Could you tell I was a bit excited over yesterday's results when I wrote the preview?

On watching the whole race, I am less certain that any significant action will happen today. The weakness yesterday was Froome. Sky, as a team, were strong. I think the team will be strong today, as well, and will keep Froome tucked inside the SkyTrain. Which will mean the attacks will likely be good for seconds, not minutes, on the final ramp, as MV spoke of.

I finally finished the last 60 km of the stage (I watch recordings at night due to work),,,

For a while it looked like it was going to be crazy, but then it became apparent that was stronger than all the other squads and Froome couldn't be isolated. appeared to have the kind of day when they decided not to try anything and at the end it was revaled that Nibali was using the same legs as Froome was using yesterday: those that are tired from trying very hard the day before. Lopez was struggling too, while Aru was having more fun on his own, without shaking up the top GC like it was Fuente De all over again.

My moment today: I don't have a clue what my local hero Odd Christian Eiking is doing in this race, he has been nowhere to be seen except at the back of the peloton early in the stage but finally! Sneaking in right behind Lopez and ahead of a few other GC guys. He started the last climb at the back of the peloton and was seen in one of the early groups that got dropped, so the last km must have been one of the faster ones today. It still looks more like training than it looks like racing to me.